24-08-2015

Anouska Beckwith, London born and Paris based, is the Founder of the all-female power creative collective “World Wide Woman” and daughter of British socialite Tamara Beckwith. The must-watch photography talent had recently launched her New York debut at “Three Squares Studio”, a Chelsea art hot spot known to be the city’s hottest beauty salon which Andi Potamkin fills with remarkable shows.

Beckwith is with no doubt the ideal style muse as we discuss about artist Egon Schiele, the perfect art world gentleman and Penhaligon’s Bluebell perfume.

What does your ideal working outfit look like?
My ideal working outfit look is highwaisted flares from Lenni Label with my YSL teddy boy black boots along with a cashmere polo neck sweater and my Swildens black leather jacket. I like to be comfortable when photographing on a shoot as well as for meetings as I feel I can relax and get the best results.

What’s best: heels or flats? Which brand or style?
For the daytime I enjoy to wearing flats as I like to be able to run around and get lots of things done but at night I prefer to wear a boot or a heel. I like to transform from one look to another depending on my mood that day.
My favourite designers are Vanessa Bruno boots and high heels, Maja boots and sandals, Club Monaco for basics and Miu Miu high heels.

What’s your favorite art-related blog or app?
I really like The London Chatter by Kelly Eastwood & Mrs Alice by Alice Naylor Leyland as both of them are old friends from my school days and I think it is important to be supportive of your friends endeavours. They have both created such a cool platform for their ideas.

What was the last thing you bought and loved?
The last thing I bought was a dark blue velvet jacket with intricate white embroidery with matching trousers from Lenni Label (Australian Brand) it is very Anita Pallenberg. I found it a few months from their Instagram and just fell in love with the look.

What is/are your personal style signifier(s)/identifier(s)?
I love red lipstick! For me I can wear jeans, a white t-shirt with flats with a splash of red and I feel good to go as well as wearing it for the evening. It always makes me feel comfortable if I am not really wanting to get dressed up!

What’s your necessary extravagance?
I love Penhaligans Bluebell perfume as I like to find quite unique perfumes that not everyone else has. I discovered it about ten years ago as it is very subtle and not abrasive which some perfumes can be. Plus the packaging is lovely and old fashioned!

Three things/products you always need to have in your purse?Mac strobe cream, as it makes your face look beautiful and glowing. Bobby Brown dark red lipstick & rose water for my face that I get from the Hippy market in Ibiza every year I go as it hydrates the skin as well as making you feel super fresh after a long day…

What’s your ultimate beauty secret after long working hours?
My mother always told me from a young age to drink 2 litres a day of water so that your body is always hydrated and therefore your skin looks glowing and without fail always take of your make-up before bed as this can lead to dry/tired looking skin as you get older.

What’s/are your favourite work(s) of art?
I love Yayoi Kusama’s ‘Infinity Mirrored Room’ as it is so magical to stand in and see all these incredible changing lights.

I have always loved history and the pre-raphaelites period if one in particular that I adore so for me Ophelia by Sir John Everett Millais is definitely one painting I have been inspired by. I made a short film last September called ‘ A Story of Ophelia’ that I exhibited at the World Wide Women Ritual Exhibition that was very much inspired by the painting.

I love Egon Schiele’s Black-Haired Nude Girl, Standing 1910, as I love the naiveté of the girl.
All of Ellen Rogers work as I am so inspired by her handpainted analogue images.
James Turrell’s ‘ Skyspace’ which I was lucky enough to see for the first time about six years ago at my friend Rose & David Cholmondeley’s house Houghton Hall, David is a big collector of his work and at present has a retrospective of Turrell’s work.
Francesco Clemente’s artwork for Great Expectations film as I really like his almost childlike depictions of Gwyenth Paltrow and the cast from the film. The is something quite haunting about their eyes, a sadness that envelopes you.
John Currin’s Sno-bo, I love his use of color and his sensitivity to his subjects.

What in the art world are you most excited about at the moment?
The last exhibition I went to that really inspired me was the Yayoi Kusama retrospective at The Pompidou in Paris. I find her incredible as she managed to make her illness of seeing spots from a young age her trademark that really transports her audience into her surrealistic world.

Most sexiest art person?
Salvador Dali, because he was an eccentric genius challenging convention from a young age. I find his mind so incredible and ahead of his time. I find people who are passionate the most interesting and Dali was a living work of art. He had such a unique style and outlook to life. I have read that he was extremely charming and self assured from a young age, however I think if you are creating such visionary pieces of work and breaking societies boundaries it must be hard not to be. I love his quote ‘ I don’t do drugs, I am drugs!’

Where are you off to next?
I am off to my good friend Jamie Burke and Mila De Wit’s wedding this weekend in the English Countryside. I have known Jamie for fourteen years and it is such a pleasure to see someone you care about fall in love with someone incredible and who brings the best out of them…

Where is your next art trip/travel going to be?
My next art trip is going to be in Ibiza in August with my family. I have been going there since I was twelve and fell in the love with everything about the island. The energy, people & nature are all so inspiring and I hope to one day live there.

In your eyes: what is the most arty city?
I would definitely say New York as it has so much energy, the people are extremely ambitious and I think once you have exhibited there it opens a lot of doors for you as an artist. New York is known to be quite a harsh city for anyone and I think if you can make there as an artist you can go anywhere in the world afterwards.

Someone you have in mind to call the perfect artworld gentlemen?
Michael Ovitz, I met him recently this summer in Italy. He is a huge art and photography collector and therefore he was full of wonderful advice. He was really supportive of my work and gave me incredible pearls of wisdom!

Which artist should we have on our watchlist?
You should have the extremely talented Christy Lee Rogers on your watchlist as she is one of my absolute favourite photographers. She is an American underwater photographer who has been compared to Caravaggio & Delacroix.